The Egyptian Public Prosecution Office in Beni Suef, Upper Egypt, ordered on Monday the detention of two suspects for four days pending investigation, after they were arrested in possession of a large collection of ancient Egyptian artifacts.
The smuggled artifacts include 26 Ushabti statues and two ancient coffins of pharaonic mummies in good condition.
The Public Prosecution seized the objects and ordered them to be subjected to examination by experts from the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities to determine their historical value and origins.
A detailed technical report on the seized pieces, their history and their archaeological value, will also be prepared.
A large security campaign arrested the suspects inside a house in al-Wasta Center, following a tip confirming that they were trafficking artifacts.
The Public Prosecution stressed the importance of completing investigations into the incident to determine the source of these antiquities and whether the suspects are part of a network for illegal excavation or smuggling.
It also pledged to firmly confront any attempts to encroach on Egypt’s heritage, due to its invaluable cultural and historical value.
